DA Brings P 20/Kilo Rice to Leyte: BBM Na Program Benefits Thousands of Families

AGRI-NEWS | Farming Posted on 2025-12-16 00:44:55

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday officially rolled out its “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program in two municipalities in Leyte, reinforcing the government’s drive to provide affordable rice to Filipino families.

In Palo town, around 1,500 families from vulnerable sectors benefited from the program’s initial distribution. Beneficiaries included members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, as well as farmers and fisherfolk.

Meanwhile, 1,000 residents in La Paz town were also able to purchase rice at a highly subsidized rate, easing the burden of rising food costs.

Under the program, each qualified beneficiary is allowed to buy up to 10 kilograms of rice at only ₱200, or ₱20 per kilogram, a significant reduction from previous prices.

“This rollout aims to give Filipino families—especially those in marginalized sectors—access to affordable and locally produced rice, supporting the department’s push for food security,” said Jenny Lyn Almeria, DA regional technical director for operations.

Almeria added that the BBM Na program will be expanded to other provinces and municipalities in Eastern Visayas in the coming weeks.

Previously, government-subsidized rice was sold at ₱33 per kilogram. However, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed concerned agencies to further lower the price to ₱20 per kilogram, leading to the launch of the BBM Na program on May 1, 2025.

The DA, in coordination with the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) and local government units, provides subsidies enabling the National Food Authority (NFA) to sell rice at the reduced price.

— NPO News Team | PNA-PR

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